Admiral Samuel Paparo recently took command of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom), with the task of addressing the growing challenges in the region. During his inauguration ceremony in Hawaii, he strongly condemned China’s intrusive and expansionist claims in the Indo-Pacific as “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive,” redefining the South China Sea as a “grey” zone. Paparo, also known as “Pappy,” emphasized that Russia, North Korea, and violent extremist organizations also pose threats in the region.
The outgoing commander, John Aquilino, expressed confidence in Paparo’s leadership, stating that he could now rest peacefully knowing “Pappy is at the controls.” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that China is the only nation with the capability to dominate the Indo-Pacific and is engaging in increasingly coercive behavior. Admiral Paparo, who previously led the Navy’s Pacific Fleet and initiated experiments with unmanned systems, has been pushing for the development of a force of small drones that could be used to repel a potential Chinese invasion force from Taiwan.
Born in Morton, Pennsylvania, Admiral Paparo comes from a military background, with his father being a former enlisted Marine and his grandfather a sailor who fought in World War II. A graduate of Villanova University, he has extensive military education and experience, including being a Top Gun graduate and flying thousands of hours in various aircraft.
Admiral Paparo is not only an experienced leader but also an expert on military technology. He has been working on developing new ways to use unmanned systems to improve U.S naval capabilities in recent years. His appointment comes at a critical time as tensions rise between major powers like China and Japan over territorial disputes and resource management issues in Asia Pacific region
